GT backwoods

[strada]

I was recently given an old backwoods frame and rims off a mate. He was gonna take it to the tip but offered it me to cut up and use in a sculpture of sorts.
Anyway it looked to good to chop up so decided to do it up bought tyres tubes cables etc
Polished up the frame,its only now that I've discovered the chain ring is knackered , I've asked a a couple of shops about a replacement chain ring but they cant get hold of one, Is it just a case of replacing the whole crank with a new one ? And would the new crank need to match the number of teeth on the original one?

 

[Wozzaaah]

If you can still get a crank that fits the existing BB then you're away, if not then you can simply change the BB to a newer type.
BBs have changed a lot over the last few years but I'd guarantee you'll be able to find a good used one somewhere, I wouldn't be surprised if someone on here has one lying about.
You wouldn't want to go much different as it will affect the gearing but there's no need to match the chainring teeth if you don't want to though I'd imagine most MTB ones are pretty much the same anyway.

 

[strada]

Thanks mate what's BB ?
Think I will just take crank to the shop and let them decide, I don't know jack about mtb ,

 

[Wozzaaah]

Bottom bracket.
Some of the older ones had a tapered square shaft, I'm guessing yours is one of them.
A bike shop will be able to sort you out with a crankset to fit.

 

[Shox Dr]

I would ask for quotes from a few shops the price will vary wildly

 

[strada]

Wozzaaah, it isn't tapered just square,
Don't know what year it is, no disc brakes does have front suspension though.
Thanks for your help.

 

[ben8vgte]

Wozzaaah, it isn't tapered just square,
Don't know what year it is, no disc brakes does have front suspension though.
Thanks for your help.

Should be a very slight taper if it's square, but here might help http://www.chainreactionhub.com/bicycle-components/1725-cranksets-buying-guide#mtbcranksets

This seems to be the only one they stock though http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-acera-m361-triple-chainset-square-taper/rp-prod106885

Trouble I find is that is put a new chain on a worn cassette it tends to slip, so if your changing the crankset budget to change the chain and cassette too. I take it you don't have removable chain rings on the front?

 

[strada]

The chain rings are removable the big one comes off on its own ,the other 2 are joined together,its this that needs replacing, My mate did change the cassette and put a new chain on but decided to buy his self a cube.Dont know if this is because he couldn't get a replacement chain ring for it.
just gonna take the crank/chain ring to the shop

 

[Wozzaaah]

Wozzaaah, it isn't tapered just square,
Don't know what year it is, no disc brakes does have front suspension though.
Thanks for your help.

It will def be tapered, as Ben says, only slightly but enough to keep it tight.

 

[wookie]

Can you post a pic of the crankset, what make/model is it ? They have changed a lot over the years, but it should be fixable fairly cheaply.

Absolutely cracking bikes !

I had a Timberline then a Karakoram and I still have my Zasker LE, it's been used and abused for years and still comes back for more punishment (been up & down Skiddaw and up Helvellyn and along Striding Edge on it to name a few )

My mate did had a Xizang but I think he's sold it now, another cracking bike.

 

[graffian]

It will def be tapered, as Ben says, only slightly but enough to keep it tight.

4º

Chain reaction had UN51 bottom brackets[sq taper] for £6.99r recently.
But if the old one is OK stick with it.
You can still get non compact 5 bolt rings from Spa Cycles, I guess if they claimed
they couldn't get them they are non compact; I have bought a few bikes with nasty
cheap cranksets that were put on by bike shops to replace the obsolete XTR/XT
cranksets[luckily I got the cranks with them].
Last time I needed rings I needed all three, while looking for rings I found chain reaction had
complete LX cranksets for less than the price of rings.